Best Places to hike in Indianapolis, Indiana
Have you ever thought about hiking in or near Indianapolis? Indianapolis is a city proud of its numerous hiking trails with a vast network of parks, nature preserves, and greenways. Despite being the capital of Indiana, the place is a hidden gem in terms of the sheer number of hiking trails available right in the heart of town.
These trails offer an escape from the daily hustle and bustle that comes with city life. If you’re in the city, don’t hesitate to go on an outdoor escape, explore the area, and reconnect with nature. There’s no better way to get out there and be surprised by the mesmerizing views and towering trees than putting on your boots and traversing some rough terrain.
Considered the heart of America, Indy has several trail options for hikers like you. Below, we’ve compiled some of the best hiking trails in Indianapolis, ranging from beginner to intermediate and advanced levels. We recommend checking out these hiking trails for a great Indianapolis hike!
Holliday Park
Trail Length: 3.5 mi
Cost: Free
Location: 6363 Spring Mill Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46260
Phone: (317) 327-7180
Holliday Park is a magnet for nature lovers, with its 3.5 miles of hiking trails and paths that wind through a beech-maple forest. Located in the heart of Indianapolis, the area is a 94-acre urban park nestled along the White River. An open park for everyone, the park is home to natural springs, wetlands, a pond, and hundreds of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers.
Holliday Park was created over a century ago by John and Evaline Holliday, who donated their estate to the city with the intent to benefit the community. Since then, the park has been a peaceful and safe space for people to go outside and enjoy nature.
This 94-acre regional park has been recognized as the premier natural area in Indianapolis County. It offers a picturesque hike along a winding nature trail. Outdoor enthusiasts can also relax on the park’s rope swing, explore the outdoor discovery house, or take in nature by the lake.
With over 400 species of trees and flowers, Holliday Park offers locals and tourists a year-round hiking trail with something new to see every season. Within the park, there are 3.5 miles of trails that can be a spectacular spot for a leisurely walk or bike ride through the woods down to the White River.
Eagle Creek Park
Trail Length: 1.25 to 6.75 mi
Cost: Free
Location: 7840 W 56th St Indianapolis IN 46254
Phone: (317) 327-7110
Located just 15 minutes from downtown Indianapolis, Eagle Creek Park is a 3,900-acre forest of winding trails and scenic beauty. The area is considered the behemoth of green space in central Indiana, connected by multiple nature trails. Encompassing a vast wilderness and sprawling meadows, it provides activities as diverse as hiking, boating, fishing, and hunting.
Eagle Creek Park has six trails for anyone to explore, and one of the most popular loops is the Red Trail. It’s a 6.75-mile circle around the entire park and offers stunning views of Eagle Creek Reservoir. Although this trail is a bit challenging, it will give you a glimpse of the park’s marina and bird sanctuary. The path is wooded until right before the marina, which opens up with great views of the lake. To shorten your journey, the trail can be accessed in multiple ways, including through North Gate, the Ornithology Center, and South Gate.
Meanwhile, if you’re not ready for such a long trek, you can walk the Green Trail. Passing along the lovely Spring Pond Nature Preserve, the trail is only a 3.25-mile hike. Along your way, be sure to stop and admire the crystal clear water and diverse wildlife.
Besides hiking, the park offers scenic picnic spots and nature observation activities where you can learn about the forest. There’s also a 1200-acre reservoir where you and your friends can enjoy sailing and rowing.
Fort Harrison State Park
Trail Length: 1 to 3.5 mi
Cost: Free
Location: 6000 N Post Rd Indianapolis IN 46216
Phone: (317) 591-0904
The largest of Indiana’s state parks, Fort Harrison features the best of what the Hoosier State has to offer. It features outstanding hiking trails through the peaceful, serene landscape of southern Indiana. This expansive park offers a variety of outdoor activities that are sure to challenge and please even the most active adventurer.
Perfect for beginners and experienced hikers alike, Fort Harrison State Park offers something for everyone, from hiking to running and biking. For a moderately challenging scenic hike, try the Schoen Creek trail at Fort Harrison State Park. This three-mile round-trip trail winds through a beautiful wetland restoration area.
Another loop in this park is the Harrison Trace Trail, which is 3.5 miles long. The path winds through the park, following Lawrence Creek and passing Delaware Lake, Warbler Woods Nature Preserve, and Duck Pond. It’s also perfect for walking or bike rides, weaving through nature, and passing park attractions along the way.
If you’re looking for a more rugged trail, another popular trail within Fort Harrison Park is the Fall Creek Trail. Trekking a mile-long path that runs along the edge of the woods, it leads you on to Duck Pond, where you can head to the banks of Fall Creek. Although it’s a shorter hike, the trail offers beautiful views and an invigorating experience.
Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve
Trail Length: 2.25 mi
Cost: Free
Location: 10410 Hague Rd, Fishers, IN 46038
Phone: (317) 595-3458
Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve is a beautiful outdoor public space located north of Indianapolis. This 127-acre woodland and historic pioneer cemetery is under protection as a state nature preserve. The hiking trail winds around a variety of trees, including majestic oaks, beech, and hickory. Within the park lies nine various trails, totaling 2.25 miles and ranging from easy to demanding terrains.
This nature preserve is owned and operated by the Ritchey Woods Foundation. A variety of trails are available, including the Swamp Trail, which is partially a boardwalk for spotting waterfowl and frogs. Offering premier trails for hikers, bikers, and equestrians, hiking here leads you through prairies, forests, wetlands, and swamp habitats. The Red Bridge Trail, a former wagon trail and railroad line, passes the Ritchey family cemetery, dating from the 1800s.
Whether you’re a casual nature-lover or looking for an adrenaline rush, Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve is the place to go. To get the most out of your visit, we recommend you wear hiking boots. The hilly terrain and water runoff from Cheeney Creek mean that there is a possibility of mud, creating a slippery surface.
Southwestway Park
Trail Length: Up to 7.5 Miles
Cost: Free
Location: 8400 Mann Rd.Indianapolis, IN 46221
Phone: (317) 327-7379
Hitting the Southwestway Park trails is an excellent way to get outside, enjoy nature, and get some exercise. Southway Park lies amid Indianapolis and has many options for outdoor recreation: a golf course, equestrian trails, mountain bike trails, and hiking. The trails vary in difficulty, from easy walkways to more challenging trials. Thus, you can hike at your own pace.
Within the park, you can discover a diverse, developed trail network and picturesque views of pastureland against the backdrop of urban Indianapolis. The second-largest park and a true hidden gem in Indy, the 587-acre land has 13 trails to delight every hiking enthusiast. For a leisurely walk or hike, you can hit the Cockrum trail. It’s a 1.3-mile-long urban wooden boardwalk trail that winds you through the White River and picnic spots.
If you prefer a more challenging route, you can trek the Cottonwood and Mann Loop, among others. For advanced hikers, experience heightened senses as you walk the Power Line Trail and Mann Summit North. The trails are well-marked, so you won’t get lost. However, keep in mind that some loops are more arduous than others.
Eagles Crest Nature Preserve
Trail Length: 4.8 Miles
Cost: Free
Location: 65th St., Marion County, IN 46234
Phone: (317) 327-7148
There are plenty of great places to go hiking, bike, and enjoy the scenery in Indianapolis. However, one of the best in Eagle Crest Nature Preserve. Providing the Indianapolis area with a picturesque plot of nearly 200 acres dense with trees, shrubs, and wildlife, this nature preserve is an oasis of calm in the city. It’s located in the northwest corner of Marion County, near Eagle Creek Park.
A perfect spot for hiking, camping, or trail running, the place offers a one-of-a-kind hiking experience that encompasses an ecosystem previously untouched. The area covers a fair amount of the White River Canyon and features some of the best views of the majestic Eagle Creek. In addition, you can experience the past as it once was and stroll through the tall old-grown trees. Plus, excellent opportunities for birdwatching along its eastern shoreline.
To find the trailhead, enter the Eagles Crest rental house and walk east toward the edge of the woods. The trailhead is located in an opening on the left side of the lawn, near the easternmost edge.
Morgan Monroe State Forest
Trail Length: .5 to 10 Miles
Cost: Free
Location: 6220 Forest Rd. Martinsville, IN 46151
Phone: (317) 972-3145
A 24,000-acre state forest and natural area, Morgan Monroe State Forest is the perfect place for an adventurous hike. Located near Martinsville (southwest of Indianapolis), it offers spectacular scenery with seven trails covering 28 miles of backcountry hiking and mountain biking. Whether your idea of a great day outdoors is an afternoon hike or a weekend in the backcountry, you’re guaranteed to find what you’re looking for in Morgan Monroe State Forest.
This state park offers a wide range of paths to please interested campers, hikers, and bikers of varying skills. The forest includes well-established trails offering a .5 to 3-mile experience, as well as the extreme 10-mile Three Lakes Trail or the Low Gap Trail. With varied terrain, gently rolling hills and prairies give way to deep forests and rocky bluffs for extreme adventure.
The three-mile Rock Shelter Trail loop is highly recommended for a shorter route. This short but rugged loop begins in the impressive Rock Shelter. Then, it meanders along high ridges with distant views. It also runs through stunted areas, running beside and through small streams. There is also the Mason Ridge Trail for a 1.5-mile walk. These trails are mostly shaded, with occasional views down the valley and creek below.
White River Canal Walk
Trail Length: 2.9 Miles
Cost: Free
Location: 801 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 233-2434
The White River Canal Walk is a 2.9-loop hike that stretches from Fishers to Noblesville. The trail runs along a portion of the White River, as well as through some of the most picturesque parts of Hamilton County. It was constructed to allow for easy transportation of goods and materials throughout Indiana. Today, it’s used for recreational purposes.
There are several places where you can access the canal walk. For instance, Broad Ripple Park in Indianapolis, the Heritage Trailhead in Noblesville (near the Village Green), and the intersection of Main Street and 121st Street in Carmel. The path itself is wide and flat, so it’s easy to navigate even if you’re not used to walking outdoors or if you have mobility issues. You’ll find plenty of benches along the way to stop and rest when needed.
If you want to explore more than just the canal walk, there are plenty of other trails close by that connect with the canal walk path. You can hit the Monon Trail that runs north from Noblesville towards Westfield. There are also bike paths along Fall Creek Parkway North in Indianapolis, where White River meets Fall Creek at Eagle Creek Reservoir.
There are plenty of options for hiking around the canal, from a quick stroll to a hike that lasts an entire day. You’ll see old bridges and locks along the way and the stunning views of downtown Indianapolis and its skyline. Open for strolling year-round and a gorgeous backdrop for all seasons, the White River Canal Walk offers an ideal escape.
Other Trails Worth Visiting for Hiking Near Indianapolis
● Jacob Schramm Nature Preserve
● Town Run Trail Park
● Flat Fork Creek Park
● Turkeyfoot Nature Park
● Creekside Nature Park
● Versailles State Park
● Geist Park
Conclusion
There’s no shortage of things to do while in Indianapolis. The city offers many recreational opportunities for hikers, including trails throughout the city and nearby small towns. The next time you’re in Indy, make unique memories through hiking and chart your next victory in one of the many scenic hiking spots. When you’re ready to get outdoors, pick your favorite trail from above and experience nature like never before. Happy hiking!